Copper-nickel Ores Research Articles

Occupational health risk assessment of exposure to major hazardous chemicals in copper and nickel smelting enterprises

Objective: To evaluate the risk of major chemical exposure positions in copper and nickel smelting enterprises, and provide a basis for risk assessment and prevention control measures. Methods: From September to October 2023, two copper nickel ore smelting enterprises in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region were selected as the research objects. Relevant information on chemicals was collected through occupational hazard field investigations. Qualitative analysis and exposure index methods were used in GBZ/T 298-2017 "Technical Guidelines for Occupational Health Risk Assessment of Chemical Hazardous Factors in the Workplace" to conduct risk assessments on the main chemical exposure positions. The qualitative risk assessment results were checked for consistency using the Weighted Kappa coefficient. Results: The positions with high risk of exposure to hazardous chemicals in copper nickel smelting enterprises are saponification positions exposed to hydrochloric acid in refining processes, black nickel positions exposed to sodium hydroxide, and tail suction positions. The consistency between the two occupational health risk assessment results is poor (Kappa=0.14) . Conclusion: The amount of major hazardous chemicals in copper-nickel smelting enterprises is large, and the occupational health risks caused by exposure are complex and diverse, so the effects of chronic occupational health should be strengthened.

Joint use of sodium silicate and polysaccharides in the flotation of talcose copper-nickel ores

The paper considers the combined effect of polysaccharides (carboxymethyl cellulose and carboxymethyl starch) with sodium silicate in the f lotation of talcose copper-nickel ore. The analysis of the f lotation results and the assessment of hydrophobicity and surface charge of minerals showed that the composition of carboxymethylated polysaccharides and sodium silicate hydrophilizes the talc surface more effectively than each of the reagents separately. Moreover, sodium silicate alone hardly depresses the talc surface at all. The depression of f lotation-active silicates is effective when polysaccharide and sodium silicate are sequentially supplied. Under these conditions, sodium silicate makes a significant contribution to increasing the negative charge on the talc particles surface. The effect is more pronounced for compositions with starch, characterized by a lower degree of substitution compared to cellulose. It results in a significantly reduced recovery of f lotation-active magnesium-containing silicates and a slight decrease in sulfide recovery. To determine the features of the mechanism of talc and sulfide minerals depression in f lotation, we performed calculations using the extended DLVO theory based on the obtained values of the zeta potential and force of detachment. We established that sulfide minerals have no potential barrier preventing their interaction with an air bubble, regardless of the compositions of the studied depressants used. We propose the following interaction mechanism: when sodium silicate is supplied first, the talc basal surface is very insignificantly hydrophilized as SiO(OH)– ions are not easy to fix. On the contrary, when the carboxymethylated polysaccharide is supplied first, significant hydrophilization of the talc surface with carboxyl groups occurs due to the hydrophobic interaction between the corresponding regions of the macromolecule and the talc basal surface.

Hydrometallurgical Processing of a Low-Grade Sulfide Copper–Nickel Ore Containing Pt and Pd

The goal of the present work was to study the recovery of copper, nickel, and platinum group metals (PGMs) (Pt and Pd) from low-grade copper–nickel ore containing pyrrhotite, pentlandite, and chalcopyrite by column bioleaching followed by cyanidation. The ore sample contained the following: Ni—0.74%, Cu—0.23%, Fe—14.8%, Stotal—8.1%, and Ssulfide—7.8%. The Pt and Pd contents in the ore sample were 0.2535 and 0.515 g/t, respectively. Biological leaching in columns was carried out at 25, 35, and 45 °C for 140 days. A mixed culture of acidophilic microorganisms was used as an inoculum. Cu and Ni extraction depended on temperature, and at 45 °C, copper and nickel recovery was the highest, being 2.1 and 1.8 times higher than that at 25 °C, respectively. As a result, up to 35% of nickel and up to 10% of copper were recovered by bioleaching within 140 days. Bioleaching resulted in an increase in Pt and Pd recovery by cyanidation, but the effect on Pd recovery was insignificant. Pt recovery varied in the range of 3–40% depending on process conditions; Pd recovery was 44–55%.

Novel approach to locate micro-scale mineral regions of interest in real ores

The surface of minerals plays a pivotal role throughout the process of mineral beneficiation and utilization. Studies on surface properties, such as surface chemistries, of mineral phases of interest in real ores enable the selective separation of minerals, thereby enhancing the utilization of mineral resources. Nevertheless, obtaining specific mineral phases, especially for finely disseminated or poorly crystalized minerals, from real ores without altering their surface chemistries remains a challenge. The challenge also persists in investigating the same micro-scale mineral region in real ores using various surface characterization techniques, such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). This paper proposes a novel approach and procedures for locating micro-scale mineral regions of interest in real ores based on a three-dimensional coordinate system etched onto the ore surface using laser etching technology. A copper-nickel ore from Jinchuan, China, served as an illustrative example, with the finely disseminated chalcopyrite and pentlandite regions in the real ore sample being located and investigated using SEM and XPS. The approach presented in this study enables the in-situ detection of surface chemistries of specific mineral phase in real ores, ensuring the homogeneity and in-situ nature of the obtained surface chemistry data. This approach holds considerable promise, especially in the investigation of surface chemistries of minerals with fine dissemination and poor crystallization.

Оперативное измерение горной массы в процессе погрузочно-доставочных работ

The article discusses an automated control system for underground mining of copper-nickel ores and the weight control system as a part of this system. The main functions of the weight control system are described, as well as the requirements towards this system, the principle of applying the proposed algorithms and the results of implementing this system at an existing mining operation. The experience of measuring the rock mass during loading and hauling operations is described in terms of operational management and control of actual quantitative and qualitative parameters of ore flow in the multistage process of the ore grade stabilization in underground mining. The obtained results help to solve the challenge of controlling the LHD bucket load while ensuring the required parameters and operating conditions for the following application scenarios: (1) control of the transported rock mass for each haul cycle with the accuracy of ±6%; (2) control of the transported rock mass by a particular LHD per shift with the accuracy not worse than 1% for 60 haul cycles per shift; (3) for the operations with high moisture content of the transported load, it is possible to account for the stuck material for each haul cycle; (4) no special requirements to the weighing process; (5) minimization of the operating costs for calibration and maintenance; (6) high reliability due to minimum amount of hardware; (7) no degradation of the method when using readings of the hydraulic system; (8) unification of the system. The accuracy and reliability of the data obtained gradually increases during the operation when the test measurements are made about once a month. The disadvantages include: (1) impossibility to use the metrological level for measurements; (2) dependence on the technical condition of the onboard hydraulic system; (3) partial dependence on the LHD mileage. A conclusion is made that the process of ore grade stabilization should be multistage, and the measurement of the rock mass during the loading and hauling operations is one of the mandatory methods for implementation of the geometallurgical tasks.

Lab-scale reactor for ultrasonic treatment of cobalt–copper–nickel ore pulp

Lab-scale reactor for ultrasonic treatment of cobalt–copper–nickel ore pulp

Search for new amide-class collecting agents and study of their flotation activity in the process of copper-nickel ore flotation

Search for new amide-class collecting agents and study of their flotation activity in the process of copper-nickel ore flotation

Utilizing Russian polymer anion active depressants in the flotation of out-of-balance talcose copper nickel ore

Experimental studies were conducted on the flotation of low-sulfide copper-nickel ore containing flotation-active magnesium silicates, specifically talc, using organic polymeric anionic reagents containing carboxyl and hydroxyl groups as depressants. The following reagents, which contain carboxyl groups, were examined: carboxymethyl cellulose and carboxymethylated starch; polyacrylic acid and its derivatives; sodium humate. Copolymers of ethylene oxide with ethylenediamine and glycerol containing hydroxyl groups were also investigated. The objective of this study was to identify new efficient domestic depressants for flotation-active silicates, selectively acting in the flotation of low-sulfide copper-nickel ore, in comparison with the performance of foreign Depramin 347 depressant. The impact of depressant reagents on the surface properties of talc was determined by the values of air bubble detachment force and electrokinetic potential. It was observed that for reagents containing carboxyl groups, the depressing effectiveness decreased in the following order: carboxymethyl cellulose → carboxymethylated starch → polyacrylic acid → sodium humate. This reduction was attributed to a decrease in the acidic properties of the reagents, a decline in their adsorption affinity for talc, and a decrease in the proportion of active carboxyl groups participating in the formation of the electrokinetic potential. Furthermore, a trend towards increased depressing ability was noted for carboxymethyl cellulose samples with an increasing degree of substitution. In contrast, reagents containing hydroxyl groups had virtually no depressing effect on talc. The data obtained support the use of domestic industrial samples of carboxymethyl cellulose, namely CMC 7N and PAC-N, as depressants for floating silicates, particularly talc, which is a detrimental impurity in the concentrate.

Highly selective adsorbents based on silica gel chemically modified with sulfur-containing groups of arched structure for preconcentration and determination of palladium(II) in products of processing of sulfide copper-nickel ore

Adsorbents based on silica gel chemically modified with arch structure 2-aminophenyl disulfide (DSS) and bis[3-(triethoxysilyl)propyl]tetrasulfide (TSS) groups have been synthesized. The proposed adsorbents quantitatively extracted (extraction ∼99 %) only palladium(II) among all platinum metals from solutions of 2 M HCl - pH 4. Quantitative extraction of Pd(II) was not interfered with 106-fold excesses of alkaline, alkaline-earth, 104-fold excesses of non-ferrous metals and iron, 102-103-fold excesses of other platinum metals. Pd(II) was eluted quantitatively (desorption ∼99 %) from the adsorbents surface with 5–10 % thiourea solutions and could be determined in the eluate by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). The adsorption capacity of DSS and TSS adsorbents was not changed after 5 adsorption-elution cycles. The limit of detection of palladium in the analyzed solution, calculated using the 3 s-criterion, was 0.1 μg/L for solid-phase extraction-inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (SPE-ICP-OES) method with a preconcentration factor of 50. Intensive yellow-orange color of the palladium surface complex was used in the development of express test-methods for its determination. SPE-ICP-OES and test methods were used in the determination of palladium in certified reference materials of sulfide copper-nickel ore and products of its technological processing.

New data on the types of sulfide copper-nickel ores of the Kharaelakh trough and the main patterns of their distribution

The types of magmatic sulfide ores on the Western flank of the Oktyabrsky deposit have been studied, and the patterns of their distribution have been established. The features of ore-bearing rocks within the western branch of the Kharayelakh intrusive Talnakh ore field have been studied. The morphology of ore bodies is described and mineralogical characteristics of ore types in the western part of the Kharaelakh intrusion are given according to drilling data of recent years. The data of earlier studies on the types of ores and their spatial placement on the flanks of the Oktyabrsky deposit are summarized and confirmed. The main patterns of spatial distribution, composition and morphology of copper-nickel sulfide ore deposits on the western flank of the Oktyabrsky deposit are identified, which can be used as search criteria for further geological exploration.

Impact of rock mass jointing on dilution of disseminated copper–nickel ore in Oktyabrsky Mine

Impact of rock mass jointing on dilution of disseminated copper–nickel ore in Oktyabrsky Mine

The quality control of copper–nickel ores of the Talnakh deposit

The quality control of copper–nickel ores of the Talnakh deposit

Происхождение и структурная позиция Камчатского срединного массива по данным глубинных геолого‑геофизических исследований

The article shows the results of deep research along the profile of the settlement of Nizhnyaya Oblukovina – the city of Andrianovka, crossing the northern part of the Kamchatka median massif. A geological and geophysical model of the structure of the earth’s crust and upper mantle has been constructed, where the structural position of the object under study is presented and an assumption is made about its origin. The model highlights a fragment of paleosubduction (slab), which was part of the most ancient convergent boundary in western Kamchatka. The final stage of subduction blocking and its displacement to the east at a distance of ~60 km in the Early Eocene is associated with the entry into the accretionary complex of a terrane in the form of an island-arc plate 6–9 km thick. At the site of the maximum inflection of the subsequent slab, an extension zone was formed – a rift zone, along which the rise of mantle material and high-temperature fluid occurred. Approximately 52 million years ago, the processes of metamorphism, focal melting and intrusion of granites into the upper layers of the crust took place. As a result, in the eastern part of the plate and its flanks, a granitoid massif was formed with a rock density of 2.58 g/cm3, which is significantly lower than the environmental density. Density deficiency led to a violation of isostatic equilibrium and, as a result, to a rise in this part of the structure. The most intense uplift occurred at the end of the Oligocene, as a result of which a ledge was formed, which the authors recommend giving the name: “Middle Kamchatka ledge” instead of the rooted “Kamchatsky median massif”. The genetic relationship of the Shanuch ore region with the features of the deep structure of the lithosphere has been revealed. The results of the research indicate a hidden (buried) distribution of the island-arc plate beyond the boundaries of the mapped outcrops of metamorphids. Intrusions of the main composition, promising for the opening of sulfide copper-nickel ores, are located in the marginal parts of the ledge.

Occupational Health Risks for Workers Engaged in Copper-Nickel Ore Processing

Introduction: Despite all preventive measures constantly taken, high incidence of occupational diseases is still registered in workers of copper-nickel enterprises. Objective: To obtain new knowledge about the conditions, timing, structure and frequency of occupational diseases in order to develop methods for their more effective prevention in workers involved in pyrometallurgical copper-nickel ore processing. Materials and methods: We have analyzed incidence rates of occupational diseases in a cohort of 664 workers who processed copper-nickel ore in 2007–2020. Results: Working conditions during pyrometallurgical processing of copper-nickel ore correspond to hazard classes 3.2–3.4 with the chemical exposure being of paramount importance in the development of health disorders (45.6 % of cases). In 2007, 664 workers were examined and 158 occupational diseases were diagnosed in 65 (9.8 %) of them in the years 2008–2020, respiratory and musculoskeletal diseases being the most prevalent categories (50.6 % and 29.1 %, respectively) and chronic bronchitis and sensorineural hearing loss – the most prevalent diseases (27.8 % and 17.1 %, respectively). We established non-occupational disorders (arthralgia, osteochondrosis, early signs of hearing impairment, etc.) contributing to further development of occupational diseases. Smoking history (> 5 packs/year) was found to promote occupational diseases of the respiratory system (RR = 4.84; 95 % CI: 2.51–9.35). Crane operators (17.5 % of the workers) were found to be at highest risk of occupational diseases (366.1 cases per 10,000 workers). Conclusions: Based on data on previously registered occupational diseases, working conditions, length of service, occupation, and clinical conditions, criteria for five risk categories have been developed to predict occupational diseases by time, nosology, and severity of the course in metallurgists involved in copper-nickel ore processing.

Fractal analysis of the sulfide composition and structure of interspersed ores in picrite gabbro-dolerites of the Oktyabrsky deposit, Norilsk ore field

The analysis of ore samples taken from wells drilled on the Eastern flank of the Oktyabrskoye deposit was carried out. In the vein-disseminated sulfide copper-nickel ores of the deposit, three types of mineralization are distinguished, which clearly differ from each other: interstitial-teardrop-like, interstitial, tear-shaped-interstitial. A sample of each type of ore was examined by 3D tomography and analyzed using fractal theory. Based on the results of the study, a conclusion was made about the relationship between the fractal dimensions of ore minerals and the dynamics of the formation of various types of ores. The pattern of changes in the intensity of mineralization from the thickness of the layers is established. The results obtained may be of great importance in relation to the technology of enrichment of new types of ores from the flanks of the deposit, and also be an additional criterion for identifying in disseminated ores zones with the highest intensity of ore mineralization during prospecting and exploration in the Norilsk ore region.

Методический подход к изучению седиментационной устойчивости тонкодисперсных отходов переработки минерального сырья по спутниковым данным загрязнения природных водоемов

The paper presents the results of the study of sedimentation stability of suspended finely-dispersed mineral particles based on satellite observations of their aggregation and sedimentation. The authors studied satellite data on self-purification of subarctic lakes polluted by apatite-nepheline, iron, and copper-nickel ore processing wastes. The multispectral images of lakes taken by Sentinel-2 spacecraft have allowed determining the average size of suspended finely-dispersed mineral processing wastes and the density of particle size distribution. To account for aggregation, the authors have designed a computer model of the dynamics of suspended particles and have set parameters of the forces of electrostatic and dispersion interactions of mineral particles from the Kola deposits. It is shown that the balance of repulsive electrostatic and dispersion attractive forces appears in the generation of aggregates of finely-dispersed mineral particles with characteristic fractal dimension, using Nepheline, Hematite, Quartz, and Pyrite as examples. The authors have developed an algorithm for matching the computer simulation results of the dynamics of suspended particles with the results of satellite images processing of lakes. The developed methodological approach makes it possible to determine the sedimentation stability of lakes’ pollution by finedispersed mineral processing wastes without surface observations. The research results allow calculating the sedimentation velocity of mineral particles and their aggregates of a given size. The good correspondence between the calculated parameters of particles aggregation and sedimentation and satellite observations data can be used to monitor the pollution of water bodies when adapting mineral processing technologies to modern production ecologization requirements, as well as to assess the waterenvironmental potential of the territory for rational management of natural resources.

Recovery of non-ferrous metals from sulfide ores by the method of heap bioleaching on the example of Allarechensk technogenic deposit

On the example of the Allarechensk technogenic deposit ore, the heap bioleaching method feasibility for the copper-nickel ores processing and non-ferrous metals recovery was considered. The content of metals in the initial ore sample was following: nickel – 2.42 %, copper – 0.75 %. The ore grinded to a size of -5+3 mm was irrigated with a solution containing a strain of Acidithiobacillus ferrivorans. The S:L ratio was 4:1, the flow rate was 0.1 mL/min. In pregnant solutions, the pH and ORP values were controlled, and the concentrations of ferrous and ferric iron, copper, and nickel ions were also measured. The experiment duration was 330 days, 8.9 % nickel and 6.1 % copper were recovered. The pathways for the metals extraction from pregnant solutions, as well as the utilization of bioleaching residue were considered.

Metode za preradu bakro-niklovih sirovina na Arktiku

The different genesis of copper-nickel objects requires the use of different technologies for their enrichment. A scheme has been proposed for processing copper-nickel ore tailings, first by granulating the tailings with sulfuric acid, storing them at below-zero temperatures, and then followed by heap leaching of granules was proposed. The effect of different ratios of tailings to binder during granulation on the subsequent recovery of the metals was considered. At a ratio of S:L = 6:1, 44.4% nickel and 8.9% copper were recovered during the 40-day experiment. For ore processing, the efficiency of heap leaching with a 2% H2SO4 solution using technogenic ores from the Nud Terrasa was considered and Allarechensk deposits ores was studied, as no additional ore preparation was required. At the end of the experiment, 12.8% nickel and 10.2% copper were recovered from the Nud Terrasa ore, and 10.2% nickel and 4.4% copper were recovered from the ore of the Allarechensk technogenic deposit. The ore from the Nud II deposit and a rich sample of the Allarechensk ore were processed by low-temperature roasting with ammonium sulfate. From the ore of the Allarechensk technogenic deposit, 91.5% of nickel and 94.8% of copper were recovered. The results obtained may be of significant practical interest, especially in the Arctic zone.

Разработка спектрофотометрической методики определения ионов меди (II) с N-бензилоил-N'-(фенилсульфонил)гидразином

The results of studying the processes of complex formation of N-benzyloyl-N'-(phenylsulfonyl)hydrazine (BPSH) with Cu(II) ions in ammonia media are presented. The complex formation reaction was studied by spectrophotometric method. The maximum light absorption of the studied complex compound was determined. The optimal conditions for the complex formation of BFSH with Cu(II) ions were studied: the time for the development of the color of the complex; pH range of complex formation, amount of photometric reagent. The optimal ratios [Cu(II)]:[BFSH]=2:1 and 1:1 were determined by the saturation method. Under optimal conditions, a calibration curve was constructed for the determination of Cu(II) ions with BFSH in an ammonia medium. Methods of mathematical statistics determined the convergence and correctness of the spectrophotometric method of determination. Approbation of the technique was carried out on the product of flotation enrichment of sulfide copper-nickel ore of the Murmansk deposit.

Extraction of Multiple Electrical Parameters From IP-Affected Transient Electromagnetic Data Based on LSTM-ResNet

The induced polarization (IP) effect due to a polarizable body distorts transient electromagnetic (TEM) data, thereby potentially triggering sign reversal phenomena in the measured response. The measured horizontal electric field associated with a grounded-wire TEM is more strongly affected by IP effects than the measured vertical field, meaning that data inversion is more problematic for its component. The traditional inversion method, which assumes a frequency independent resistivity, is complex to extract the chargeability. Yet, the chargeability provides critical information, so it is important to extract the chargeability in addition to the resistivity from IP-affected TEM data. Thus, we proposed a data-driven method based on deep learning to recover the resistivity and chargeability of IP-affected horizontal electric fields. This method, named LSTM-ResNet, combines long short-term memory (LSTM) and a residual network (ResNet) to estimate subsurface electrical properties. Synthetic tests showed that LSTM-ResNet is computationally efficient and accurate for inversion problems. Based on the inverse results with data added noise, we found that a well-trained neural network was not sensitive to noise. A case study was performed by applying LSTM-ResNet to field data collected by a grounded-wire TEM survey at the Kalatongke copper-nickel ore deposit. LSTM-ResNet recovered the simultaneous resistivity and chargeability distributions of subsurface structures from the IP-affected horizontal electric TEM field. The results show a high-chargeability and low-resistivity layer, which was consistent with the lithologic profiles based on drilling cores, indicating the accuracy and robustness of the proposed framework for multi-parameter inversion.